659 Lena C. Endresen

Contact and Cooperation: The Israeli-Palestinian People-to-People Program

In the Interim Agreement of 1995, Israel and the PLO agreed to cooperate on a People-to-People Program in accordance with concepts developed together with Norway. This paper describes the Program that thus was established. The People-to-People Program, which constitutes a unique peace building effort, was governmentally initiated, and represents a blurring of the lines between peace making and peace building. It was established to supplement the peace process by involving the two populations in this process. One of its primary objectives was to facilitate cooperation, based on equality and reciprocity. However, structural and social factors challenged this goal. The paper analyzes three dimensions: 1) impact and evaluation; 2) the relationship between the peace process at large and the People-to-People Program; and 3) the influence of the asymmetrical relationship between the two parties in the Program. Finally, the third- party role of the Fafo Institute for Applied Social Science is described. The paper covers the period from September 1995 to mid-2000.

Contents

Abstract
Introduction
The People-to-People Program: Rationale and Assumptions
People-to-People Program Activities
NGO Cooperative Projects
Building structures for peace
Main Challenges
Impact and Evaluation
The Impact of the Peace Process on People-to-People Activities
Equality as an Ambition: The Two NGO Sectors
Norway and the Fafo Institute for Applied Social Science as a Third Party
Conclusion
Appendix 1 People-to-People NGO Cooperative Projects
Adult Dialogue and Seminars
Culture Projects
Environment
Media
School Twinning & Education
Youth
“Larger Projects”
Appendix 2 Tables
Appendix 3 References